Hanoi bans The Economist's issue featuring Vietnam's leader on its cover, reports say
The magazine carried an image of the Communist party General Secretary To Lam with stars on his eyes, alongside the headline 'The man with a plan for Vietnam', with an article carrying the subheading: 'A Communist party hard man has to rescue Asia's great success story'.
Vietnam has transformed over recent decades into a manufacturing powerhouse, and was one of Asia's fastest growing economies last year. However, its export-reliant economy, which is heavily dependent on sending goods to the US, faces the threat of a 46% tariff announced early this year by Donald Trump.
Noting the need for Vietnam to transform its economic strategy, the Economist article stated: 'If Mr Lam fails, Vietnam will muddle on as a low-value-added production centre that missed its moment', adding that reforms could, on the other hand, 'propel 100m Vietnamese into the developed world, creating another Asian growth engine'.
Reports by both Reuters and Bloomberg quoted unnamed distributors who said they could not obtain copies of the magazine or that it had been banned.
An unnamed executive at distributor Ngay Moi told Reuters they had been ordered to 'tear off' the cover and article about Lam, adding: 'Later, we were ordered not to sell it at all.'
An employee at a second distributor, Global Book Corporation, also told Reuters Vietnam's ministry in charge of public information had banned the edition.
Vietnam's ministry of foreign affairs and the Economist did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month, Vietnamese authorities ordered telecom providers to block the messaging app Telegram, accusing it of failing to cooperate with efforts to crack down on crime. An internal document reported by Reuters said that many Telegram groups 'with tens of thousands of participants were created by opposition and reactionary subjects spreading anti-government documents'.
Vietnam has little tolerance for dissent and maintains a tight control on the media, with press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières ranking it as among the worst in the world for media freedoms - at 173 place out of an index of 180 countries. The group describes Vietnam as 'one of the world's biggest prisons for journalists'.
Aleksandra Bielakowska, Advocacy Officer for RSF said the decision to ban distribution of the Economist reflected the continued repression of press freedom in the country.
'It is clear that the Vietnamese authorities consider a free press a challenge to its one-party rule, and will do anything in its power to silence independent voices,' Bielakowska said, citing the case of journalist Pham Doan Trang, who has been detained for nearly five years by the regime.
'While Vietnamese authorities seek rapprochement with democracies to boost its economy, the international community as a whole must seize this opportunity to put human rights and freedom of the press on the frontline of its negotiations,' she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
26 minutes ago
- Reuters
North Korea calls South Korea's peace overtures 'great miscalculation'
SEOUL, July 28 (Reuters) - North Korea has no interest in any policy or proposals for reconciliation from South Korea, the powerful sister of its leader Kim Jong Un said on Monday, in the first response to peace overtures by the South's liberal President Lee Jae Myung. There had been cautious optimism in the South that the North might respond positively and even show willingness to return to dialogue after Pyongyang also shut off its propaganda loudspeakers, a move that Lee said came sooner than expected. Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of North Korea's ruling party who is believed to speak for its leader, said Lee's pledge of commitment to the South Korea-U.S. security alliance showed he was no different from his hostile predecessor. "If South Korea expects to reverse all the consequences of (its actions) with a few sentimental words, there could be no greater miscalculation than that," Kim said in comments carried by the official KCNA news agency. Lee, who took office on June 4 after winning a snap election following the removal of hardline conservative Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed attempt at martial law, has vowed to improve ties with Pyongyang that had reached their worst level in years. Among gestures to ease tension, Lee suspended loudspeaker broadcasts blasting anti-North propaganda across the border and banned the balloon drops of leaflets by activists that had angered Pyongyang. Kim, the North Korean official, called those moves merely a reversal of ill-intentioned activities South Korea should never have initiated. "In other words, it's not even something worth our assessment," she said. "We again make clear the official position that whatever policy is established in Seoul or proposal is made, we are not interested, and we will not be sitting down with South Korea and there is nothing to discuss." Following the KCNA comments on Monday, Lee said it was important to restore trust between the neighbours. South Korea's Unification Ministry, charged with handling ties between the two countries, said Kim Yo Jong's comments "show the wall of distrust between the South and the North is very high as a result of hostile and confrontational policy over the past few years". South Korea will keep up efforts for reconciliation and cooperation with the North, ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told a briefing. Its new unification minister, Chung Dong-young, said he planned to advise Lee to adjust joint military drills with the United States, Yonhap said. The exercises have been criticised by Pyongyang. Still, Lee, whose government is embroiled in tough negotiations with Washington to avert punishing tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump, has called the U.S. alliance the pillar of South Korea's diplomacy. Seoul would make efforts in all areas to "strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance that was sealed in blood", Lee said on the anniversary of the Korean War armistice on Sunday. North Korea held a parade in its capital of Pyongyang to mark the event it calls victory day, though state media reports indicated it was on a smaller scale than in some previous years. Columns of marching soldiers held portraits of commanders, including state founder Kim Il Sung, with spectators and frail veterans in historic army uniforms in attendance in state media pictures, which did not show major weapons in the parade. A formation of military jets flew over the Pyongyang Gymnasium square trailing streaks of flares and fireworks. State media made no mention of leader Kim Jong Un's attendance. The two Koreas, the United States and China, which were the main belligerents in the 1950-53 Korean War, have not signed a peace treaty.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Swinney to press Trump on Scotch whisky tariffs exemption
Scotland's First Minister has vowed to press President Donald Trump to exempt Scotch whisky from US trade tariffs. John Swinney said the 'uniqueness' of whisky made in Scotland justified the exemption from the 10% tariff applied on UK exports into the US. The First Minister, who is due to hold talks with Mr Trump during his ongoing visit to Scotland, said the tariffs were currently costing the local whisky industry £4 million a week. 'Tariffs are very important for the Scottish economy and obviously scotch whisky is a unique product,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world. So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place. 'Obviously the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry. 'So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whisky should be exempted from those tariffs. 'It's a product that is uniquely produced in Scotland, and it's a product that is much welcomed and supported within the United States. And I think there's a really good case for exempting Scotch whisky, and this is an opportunity that I have to put that case to President Trump on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant part of the Scottish economy. 'And the tariffs just now are costing the industry about £4 million each week, so it's a very significant burden on the industry. It would help growth and development within the Scottish economy if we could secure that deal. And, obviously, I'll be using every opportunity I have to try to put that across to President Trump.' Mr Trump's five-day visit to Scotland is largely a private one that has seen the president play golf at his course at Turnberry in Ayrshire ahead of opening a new course at his property in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday. Mr Swinney said the final cost of the policing the visit has yet to be worked out. 'Obviously, we're working very closely with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority about the arrangements for this visit,' he said. 'The security arrangements have gone well since President Trump arrived on Friday, and that's as it should be, because we've got an obligation to make sure that when we have major international visitors, when they come to Scotland, that they are protected and able to go about their activities. Pressed to reveal the bill, Mr Swinney added: 'All of that will be worked out and we'll address that with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority, and we're talking to the United Kingdom government about these questions, but it's important that we have a secure policing operation. 'It's also important that members of the public who wish to express their point of view, who want to protest about the visit or about other issues, are able to go about their exercise of their democratic right to protest. That's exactly what they've been able to do since Friday, and that's the way it should be.'
Scottish Sun
27 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
International flight from major US city forced to make emergency landing in Scotland
The plane was bound for Copenhagen Airport in Denmark after setting off from the US late AIR ALERT International flight from major US city forced to make emergency landing in Scotland Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PASSENGER plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Edinburgh Airport. The Scandinavian Airlines flight departed from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, USA, on Saturday evening. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Edinburgh Airport Credit: Andrew Barr The plane was bound for Copenhagen Airport in Denmark. But flight SK910 was diverted to the capital after issuing an alert. A 7700 squawk code was triggered, suggesting a general emergency onboard. The alert was issued due to a technical issues, according to SAS. The aircraft touched down in Edinburgh around 6.30am yesterday morning. A Scandinavian Airlines spokesperson said: "The SK910 was diverted to Edinburgh due to a technical issue. "All passengers were well taken care of and continued their journey to Copenhagen on an alternative flight." On Friday, President Donald Trump's Air Force One landed at Prestwick Airport. Large crowds gathered around the perimeter of the Ayrshire air hub as the US leader jetted in. Mr Trump is on a four-day private visit as he prepares to open his second Aberdeenshire golf course. Wild moment easyJet passengers pin down man who yelled 'I've got a bomb' on board flight to UK as cops swarm plane Over the weekend, the Commander in Chief played rounds of golf at Turnberry, near Girvan, and he is preparing to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney today.
